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The New York Rangers made significant roster upgrades during the offseason, enhancing their depth and skill throughout the organization. For the first time in several years, the team had substantial cap space to work with over the summer. They targeted specific areas, adding more speed and offensive firepower to the lineup. Through the first four games of the season, the results were markedly better than the early part of the 2025-26 campaign. New York posted a 3-1-0 record and enjoyed considerable success on home ice, a stark contrast to the previous season.
However, while the overall skill level has risen, the Rangers still lack high-end, elite talent. This is evident in the NHL top 100 player list compiled by a panel at ESPN. Only two Rangers players made the cut, but they are as solid a foundation as any team could ask for: goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox.
Surprisingly, Shesterkin has dropped in the rankings entering this season. He is ranked No. 35, a significant fall from the No. 14 spot he held at this point last year. Given his exceptional abilities between the pipes, such a decline is unexpected. Equally surprising is that three goaltenders are ranked ahead of him: Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, and Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders. Shesterkin battled injuries last season but proved he remains one of the best netminders in the world. When he was off the ice, the team's performance plummeted.
Fox also dealt with injuries last season, but it didn't impact his ranking as much as it seemingly did for his teammate. The star defenseman is ranked No. 51, moving up one spot from No. 52 last season. This is an appropriate ranking for Fox, who is the No. 11-ranked defenseman in the NHL. An elite power-play quarterback, he is as productive as any player at his position in the league. As long as those two are healthy, the Rangers will have a chance to compete with any team, night in and night out. Both are playing great out of the gate to help the team to a strong start.
Key Analysis
The rankings highlight the Rangers' reliance on Shesterkin and Fox. While the team improved its depth, the lack of other top-100 players underscores the need for these two to stay healthy. Their performance will be crucial to the Rangers' success this season.